Two expat lecturers explain what teaching at a Thai university involves. Pay runs from about THB28,000 a month at government universities to THB140,000 for PhD staff at private ones, and the best jobs are rarely advertised.
The following post is a chapter from our book, Working in Thailand: How to Ditch the Desk, Board the Flight, and Land the Job, written by Patrick Taylor and Karsten Aichholz.
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Key Takeaways
- A lecturer post at a Thai university usually asks for at least a master’s degree, and senior research roles expect a PhD and a publishing record.
- Pay starts around THB28,000 a month at government universities, while experienced PhD lecturers at private universities can earn THB70,000 to THB140,000.
- Teaching hours are light, but research, projects and admin fill much of the rest of the week.
- Class size and whether students want to be there shape the job far more than classroom equipment, so ask about both at interview.
- Bureaucracy and short-term contracts are common, and many meetings run in Thai, so learning the language helps.
- Few university jobs are advertised internationally, so contact deans and program directors directly.
- If salary is your main goal, an international school usually pays better than a university.
The Lecturers
Unless otherwise noted, all quotes by Dr. David Achtzehn and Kit Johnson, lecturers.
Bangkok University’s School of Entrepreneurship and Management (BUSEM) is located on a leafy, modern campus off the capital’s bustling Rama IV Road.
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